Gaming system and method incorporating winning enhancements

Abstract

A computer implemented method is provided for integrating winning enhancements with a video game performed by a video gaming computer device comprising: selecting on a random basis a first set of chance elements, that determine a first gaming outcome; retrieving one or more rules for generating and displaying video gaming output based on the first set of chance elements, the video gaming output including a first set of gaming elements organized in a first array; displaying the first set of gaming elements; selecting on a random basis a second set of chance elements that determine a second gaming outcome; retrieving one or more rules for generating and displaying video gaming output based on the second set of chance elements as a second set of gaming elements that produce winning enhancements, the second set of gaming elements being organized in a second array; and displaying the winning enhancements in way that simulates the second set of gaming elements interacting physically with the first set of gaming elements. In another aspect, the second set of gaming elements interact with the first set of gaming elements via a grid overlay. A gaming device, gaming computer system, and gaming computer program that incorporates the wining enhancements is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer implemented method for integrating winning enhancements with a video game performed by a video gaming computer device comprising at least one gaming device processor, at least one gaming device memory device storing a plurality of gaming device instructions, a display device connected to the at least one gaming device processor, a plurality of input devices including an acceptor of a first physical item associated with a first monetary value and a cash-out button actuatable to cause an initiation of a payout associated with credits, the computer implemented method comprising:
 selecting on a random or pseudorandom basis a first set of chance elements, that determine a first gaming outcome; 
 retrieving, from a persistent store, one or more rules adapted for generating and displaying video gaming output based on the first set of chance elements, the video gaming output including a first set of gaming elements organized in a first array; 
 displaying, using a display device of the video gaming computer device, the first set of gaming elements; 
 selecting on a random or pseudorandom basis a second set of chance elements that determine a second gaming outcome; 
 retrieving, from the persistent store, one or more rules adapted for generating and displaying video gaming output based on the second set of chance elements as a second set of gaming elements that produce winning enhancements, the second set of gaming elements being organized in a second array; 
 generating, using a processor, a grid overlay relative to the first array, the grid overlay comprising a plurality of cells, wherein at least one cell of the plurality of cells overlaps with a plurality of neighboring gaming elements of the first set of gaming elements, wherein the second array is the grid overlay to the first array; 
 displaying the winning enhancements in way that simulates, by a display controller on the display device linked to a physical attribute simulator, a plurality of physical objects, each representative of one of the first or the second set of gaming elements, and simulates a plurality of physical interactions amongst the physical objects, the physical interactions including collisions and movements of the physical objects; 
 simulating, by the display controller on the display device linked to the physical attribute simulator, at least one gaming element of the second set of gaming elements coming to a resting position in the at least one cell of the grid overlay that overlaps with the plurality of neighboring gaming elements of the first set of gaming elements; and 
 providing, by the processor, data signals defining the winning enhancements impacting the first gaming outcome associated with any winning combination involving the plurality of neighboring gaming elements of the first set of gaming elements; 
 wherein the first set of gaming elements are represented by symbols displayed on moving reels, and the display controller board simulates additional symbols being dropped over the moving reels, and the additional symbols colliding with the surface of the moving reels, and with one another, until the additional symbols achieve a resting position; and 
 wherein in the resting position at least one additional symbol achieves a position in the at least one cell that overlaps with the plurality of neighboring game elements, and based on this position or collective position, a gaming outcome is displayed. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , comprising simulating, by the processor on the display device, that the second set of gaming elements modifies the first gaming outcomes depending on the simulated physical interactions between the physical objects representative of the first set of gaming elements and the second set of gaming elements so as to produce a second gaming outcome based on the winning enhancements. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first array includes a plurality of cells for receiving the gaming elements, and the second array includes a plurality of cells that fit within at least one cell of the first array. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of gaming elements are represented by reels, and the second set of gaming elements are represented by balls capable of interacting physically with the reels, wherein the physical interaction comprises dropping the balls onto the spinning reels, wherein the physical interaction continues after the balls come to the resting position via the grid overlay, wherein movement of the balls correlates to the overlay grid and not the first array of the first set of gaming elements. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein using a display controller:
 the second set of gaming elements are depicted as appearing on the display, and moving on the display in a way that interacts with the first set of gaming elements; and 
 at least one second set of gaming element in the resting position overlaps a plurality of gaming elements of the first set of gaming elements. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , comprising:
 accessing one or more gaming rules that determine the gaming outcomes, if any, associated with the placement of second set of gaming elements relative to the first set of gaming elements in the resting position; and 
 applying the gaming rules to calculate winnings if any, and displaying messaging based on application of the gaming rules. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 using the second set of gaming elements to produce, using the display controller, a simulation of one or more of the physical objects represented by the second set of gaming elements falling on one or more of the physical objects representing the first set of gaming elements; 
 wherein the simulation is based on how the physical objects representing the second set of gaming elements would interact physically with the physical objects representing the first set of gaming elements. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the number of cells for the grid overlay may vary for the same reel. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of gaming elements comprises symbols displayed on reels, wherein the second set of gaming elements comprises ball graphics, wherein the method further comprises:
 simulating spinning of the plurality of reels that comprise symbols providing the first set of gaming elements; 
 simulating dropping of the ball graphics onto the plurality of spinning reels; 
 simulating the ball graphics of the second set of gaming elements interacting physically with the plurality of spinning reels; and 
 simulating a ball graphic come to the resting position so as to overlap a plurality of symbols displayed on the reels. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the physical interactions comprise movement of the second set of gaming elements, wherein the movement of the second set of gaming elements correlates to the grid overlay and not the first array of the first set of gaming elements. 
     
     
       11. A gaming device comprising:
 a display screen; 
 a display controller coupled to the display screen to control display output;
 a plurality of input devices, including an acceptor of a first physical item associated with a first monetary value; 
 
 a cash-out button actuatable to cause an initiation of a payout associated with credits; and 
 a processing system running a game computer program to configure the processing system to perform operations of: 
 selecting on a random or pseudorandom basis a first set of chance elements, that determine a first gaming outcome; 
 retrieving one or more rules adapted for generating and displaying video gaming output based on the first set of chance elements, the video gaming output including a first set of gaming elements organized in a first array; 
 displaying, using the display controller, the first set of gaming elements on the display screen; 
 selecting on a random or pseudorandom basis a second set of chance elements that determine a second gaming outcome; 
 retrieving one or more rules adapted for generating and displaying video gaming output based on the second set of chance elements as a second set of gaming elements that produce winning enhancements, the second set of gaming elements being organized in a second array; 
 generating, using a processor, a grid overlay relative to the first array, the grid overlay comprising a plurality of cells, wherein at least one cell of the plurality of cells overlaps with a plurality of neighboring gaming elements of the first set of gaming elements, wherein the second array is the grid overlay to the first array; and 
 displaying, by the display controller on the display device linked to a physical attribute simulator, the displaying including simulation of a plurality of physical objects, each representative of one of the first or second set of gaming elements, and simulation of the physical objects representing the second set of gaming elements engaging in physical interactions with the physical objects representing the first set of gaming elements via the grid overlay, the physical interactions including collisions and movements of the physical objects; 
 displaying, by the display controller on the display device linked to a physical attribute simulator, simulation of at least one gaming element of the second set of gaming elements coming to a resting position in the at least one cell that overlaps with the plurality of neighboring gaming elements of the first set of gaming elements; and 
 providing, by the processor, data signals defining the winning enhancements impacting the first gaming outcome associated with any winning combination involving the plurality of neighboring gaming elements of the first set of gaming elements; 
 wherein the first set of gaming elements are represented by symbols displayed on moving reels, and the display controller board simulates additional symbols being dropped over the moving reels, and the additional symbols colliding with the surface of the moving reels, and with one another, until the additional symbols achieve a resting position; and 
 wherein in the resting position at least one additional symbol achieves a position in the at least one cell that overlaps with the plurality of neighboring game elements, and based on this position or collective position, a gaming outcome is displayed. 
 
     
     
       12. The gaming device of  claim 11 , wherein the first set of gaming elements comprises symbols displayed on reels, wherein the second set of gaming elements comprises ball graphics, wherein the processing system is further configured for:
 simulating spinning of the plurality of reels that comprise symbols providing the first set of gaming elements; 
 simulating dropping of the ball graphics onto the plurality of spinning reels; 
 simulating the ball graphics of the second set of gaming elements interacting physically with the plurality of spinning reels; and 
 simulating a ball graphic come to a resting position so as to overlap a plurality of symbols displayed on the reels. 
 
     
     
       13. A gaming computer system for incorporating winning enhancements into a video game comprising:
 at least one gaming device processor; 
 at least one gaming device memory device storing a plurality of gaming device instructions; 
 a display device connected to the at least one gaming device processor; 
 a plurality of input devices, including an acceptor of a first physical item associated with a first monetary value; 
 a cash-out button actuatable to cause an initiation of a payout associated with credits; 
 a display controller board configured that is operable to access a plurality of gaming rules, including (i) rules of play (including pay-out rules) and game display rules, and, based on the gaming rules, to generate gaming output for display to the users; 
 a random or pseudorandom generator linked to the display controller and operable to generate random or pseudorandom selections, as part of the gaming rules, thereby producing gaming outcomes; 
 a gaming controller board, based on random or pseudorandom selection(s) of the random or pseudorandom generator, configured to generate a first level winning pattern consisting of a first set of gaming elements, and a second level winning pattern consisting of a second set of gaming elements, wherein the second level winning pattern is rendered as a visual overlay to the first level winning pattern, wherein the second level winning pattern comprises at least one gaming element of a second set of gaming elements overlapping a plurality of neighboring gaming elements of the first set of gaming elements in the first winning pattern; and 
 a physical attribute simulator unit coupled to the display controller board and the gaming controller board, the physical attribute simulator configured to control the display controller board to represent or simulate a plurality of physical objects, each representative of one of the first or second set of gaming elements, and to represent or simulate the physical objects representative of the second set of gaming elements engaging in physical interactions with the physical objects representative of the first set of gaming elements through the overlay, the physical interactions including collisions and movements of the physical objects, 
 wherein the first set of gaming elements are represented by symbols displayed on moving reels, and the display controller board simulates additional symbols being dropped over the moving reels, and the additional symbols colliding with the surface of the moving reels, and with one another, until the additional symbols achieve a resting position; and 
 wherein in the resting position, at least one of the additional symbols provides the at least one gaming element of the second set of gaming elements that overlaps the plurality of neighboring gaming elements, and based on the resting position a gaming outcome is displayed. 
 
     
     
       14. The gaming computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the physical interactions simulate the way the moving physical objects would interact in the physical world. 
     
     
       15. The gaming computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the gaming rules include one or more rules that are applied to determine the modification of the gaming output based on the winning enhancements. 
     
     
       16. The gaming computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the additional symbols are virtual balls or virtual dice, the resting position of the virtual balls or virtual dice relative to the plurality of underlying symbols being determined through the use of a grid matrix associated with the plurality of underlying symbols and the cells of the grid matrix upon which the virtual balls or virtual dice are determined to be resting upon are indicative of which of the plurality of underlying symbols are selected for rendering and provisioning of a gaming enhancement. 
     
     
       17. The gaming computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the additional symbols are virtual balls or virtual dice, wherein the resting position of the virtual balls or virtual dice relative to the plurality of underlying symbols causes the gaming outcome of turning the underlying symbols into wild symbols. 
     
     
       18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon for operation on an electronic gaming system having at least at least one gaming device processor; at least one gaming device memory device storing a plurality of gaming device instructions, a display device connected to the at least one gaming device processor, a plurality of input devices, including an acceptor of a first physical item associated with a first monetary value, and a cash-out button actuatable to cause an initiation of a payout associated with credits, the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
 a display control module that is operable to access a plurality of gaming rules, including (i) rules of play (including pay-out rules) and game display rules, and based on the gaming rules generate gaming output for display to the users using the display device; the display controller including or being linked to a physical attribute simulator; and 
 a random or pseudorandom generator module linked to the display controller and operable to generate random or pseudorandom selections, as part of the gaming rules, thereby producing gaming outcomes; 
 wherein based on random or pseudorandom selection(s) of the random or pseudorandom generator module, the gaming control module generates a first level winning pattern consisting of a first set of gaming elements, and a second level winning pattern consisting of a second set of gaming elements, wherein the second level winning pattern is an overlay to the first level winning pattern, wherein the second level winning pattern comprises at least one gaming element of a second set of gaming elements overlapping a plurality of neighboring gaming elements of the first set of gaming elements in the first winning pattern; and 
 wherein the physical attribute simulator enables the display control module to represent or simulate a plurality of physical objects, each representative of one of the first or second set of gaming elements, and to represent or simulate the physical objects representative of the second set of gaming elements engaging in physical interactions with the physical objects representative of the first set of gaming elements through the overlay, the physical interactions including collisions and movements of the physical objects, so as to produce one or more gaming outcomes comprising winning enhancements impacting any winning combination involving the plurality of neighboring gaming elements; 
 wherein the first set of gaming elements are represented by symbols displayed on moving reels, and the display controller board simulates additional symbols being dropped over the moving reels, and the additional symbols colliding with the surface of the moving reels, and with one another until the additional symbols achieve a resting position; and 
 wherein in the resting position at least one of the additional symbols provides the at least one gaming element of the second set of gaming elements that overlaps the plurality of neighboring gaming elements, and based on the resting position a gaming outcome is displayed. 
 
     
     
       19. A computer program for instructing one or more computers to perform a method for integrating winning enhancements with a video game performed by a video gaming computer device having at least at least one gaming device processor; at least one gaming device memory device storing a plurality of gaming device instructions, a display device connected to the at least one gaming device processor, a plurality of input devices, including an acceptor of a first physical item associated with a first monetary value, and a cash-out button actuatable to cause an initiation of a payout associated with credits, the method comprising:
 selecting on a random or pseudorandom basis a first set of chance elements, that determine a first gaming outcome; 
 retrieving one or more rules adapted for generating and displaying video gaming output based on the first set of chance elements, the video gaming output including a first set of gaming elements organized in a first array; 
 displaying the first set of gaming elements; 
 selecting on a random or pseudorandom basis a second set of chance elements, that determine a second gaming outcome; 
 retrieving one or more rules adapted for generating and displaying video gaming output based on the second set of chance elements as a second set of gaming elements that produce winning enhancements, the second set of gaming elements being organized in a second array; 
 generating, using a processor, a grid overlay relative to the first array, the grid overlay comprising a plurality of cells, wherein at least one cell of the plurality of cells overlaps with a plurality of neighboring gaming elements of the first set of gaming elements, wherein the second array is the grid overlay to the first array; 
 simulating, by a display controller on the display device linked to a physical attribute simulator, a plurality of physical objects, each representative of one of the first or the second set of gaming elements, and a plurality of physical interactions amongst the physical objects, the physical interactions including collisions and movements of the physical objects; 
 simulating, by the display controller on the display device linked to the physical attribute simulator, at least one gaming element of the second set of gaming elements coming to a resting position in the at least one cell of the grid overlay that overlaps with the plurality of neighboring gaming elements of the first set of gaming elements; and 
 providing, by the processor, data signals defining the winning enhancements impacting the first gaming outcome associated with any winning combination involving the plurality of neighboring gaming elements of the first set of gaming elements; 
 wherein the first set of gaming elements are represented by symbols displayed on moving reels, and the display controller board simulates additional symbols being dropped over the moving reels, and the additional symbols colliding with the surface of the moving reels, and with one another, until the additional symbols achieve a resting position; and 
 wherein in the resting position at least one additional symbol achieves a position in the at least one cell that overlaps with the plurality of neighboring game elements, and based on this position or collective position, a gaming outcome is displayed.